Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc
Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc
London, Bloomsbury
The Audiological Science with Clinical Practice MSc is designed to train students from other disciplines as audiologists. This two-year programme includes a clinical placement, which usually takes place over 11 months (900 hours minimum) and provides the core knowledge, skills and clinical competencies necessary for employment as an audiologist and/or hearing aid dispenser.
Programme Starts: September 2022
Applications by: 31st March 2022
Entry requirements
A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Candidates who do not meet this requirement but have a minimum of five years’ relevant clinical experience may also be considered.
Students will be expected to meet the requirements of the clinical placement’s human resource department (including satisfactory health clearance and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check).
Progression to the clinical placement (second) year will be based on satisfactory academic performance and there being no fitness to practise issues.
Equivalent qualifications
Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.
About this degree
The programme provides a detailed study of the hearing and balance mechanisms, their structure, function, pathology and assessment.
The successful student will become competent in a wide range of adult hearing assessments and adult hearing amplification and aural rehabilitation. In addition, students will acquire skills that will allow them to assist in specialist areas, specifically balance and paediatric hearing assessments.
Who this course is for
This MSc is suitable for students with a first degree in a relevant subject (e.g. biomedical science, physics, engineering, speech and language therapy, psychology, allied healthcare professions). It is particularly suitable for those who are new to audiology.
Read about what it takes to study for a Master’s at UCL
What this course will give you
The UCL Ear Institute is a recognised international centre of excellence for research and training and is associated with the Royal National ENT Hospital which houses the largest clinical audiology unit in the country, and works closely with NHS audiology departments to provide placement and observation opportunities for students.
Our programme aims to ensure that graduates are scientifically literate at postgraduate level and clinically competent within an audiology setting, and that graduates from a relevant discipline acquire the knowledge and skills to practise as an audiologist and/or hearing aid dispenser or pursue a research career.
Our programme allows students the opportunity to network with a variety of different professionals, particularly audiologists, and doctors with specialist interests in ENT or audiovestibular medicine.
Read about what you’ll get out of a graduate programme
The foundation of your career
Although the programme is vocational and career-specific (audiology), some of our graduates have pursued academic careers, completing PhDs and taught doctorates. International students have used the knowledge and skills gained to promote and develop audiological services in their home countries. Graduates will also acquire many transferable skills, for example, excellent communication skills, the ability to work under pressure, the ability to work independently and in teams, and excellent interpersonal and research skills.
Employability
It is anticipated that the majority of students will seek employment as audiologists within the UK, in both the NHS and private sector. The main area of activity is adult hearing assessment and rehabilitation. As experience is acquired, audiologists might develop an interest and expertise in balance assessment and rehabilitation, paediatric audiology, tinnitus, cochlear implants, middle ear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids.
With further experience, it is anticipated that graduates might also move towards management, research or teaching.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, case presentations, tutorials, enquiry-based learning, practical demonstrations and in-service clinical placements within accredited audiology departments in the NHS or private sector.
Assessment (formative and summative) is by essays, case presentations, mini -tests, final written and practical examinations, and dissertation.
YEAR 1
Term 1: 50% of week lectures / tutorials; 20% practicals; 30% independent study
Term 2: 40% of week lectures / tutorials; 30% to 40% clinical placement & clinical tutorials; 20% to 30% independent study / research project
Summer term: Time working on independent project; primary contact with project supervisor
YEAR 2
Term 1: 11 sessions of lectures and tutorials over the term (10% to 15%); 75% to 80% of week clinical training placement and workshops; 10% independent study.
Term 2: 11 sessions of lectures and tutorials over the term (10% to 15%); 75% to 80% of week clinical training placement and workshops; 10% independent study.
Rest of year from October to September: 90% of week clinical practical training. workshops and final clinical practice examinations; 10% independent study.
25 days of non-study leave and bank holidays.
The postgraduate diploma two-year programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) in year one, and four core clinical modules (120 credits) in year two.
Modules
Full-time
Compulsory modules
Audiological Science: Research Project
Anatomy and Physiology of the Audio-Vestibular System
Introduction to Amplification and Aural Rehabilitation
Clinical and Professional Practice
Signals, Systems, Acoustics and the Ear
Clinical Adult Diagnostics and Auditory Rehabilitation
Clinical Adult Audio-Vestibular Assessment and Paediatric Hearing Assessment and Rehabilitation
Research Methods and Statistics
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Students undertake modules to the value of 300 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Audiological Science with Clinical Practice. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a PG Dip in Audiological Science with Clinical Practice.
Placement
EARI00013 – Clinical and professional practice module (15 credits) includes up to ten days of observation in audiology departments within the Greater London area.
EARI0015 & EARI0016 – Clinical modules (90 credits). Clinical training within accredited audiology departments (NHS and /or private sector), mainly within London area but also in home counties surrounding Greater London area.